Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Don't Fool with a Phantom (1970)

 

The original Scooby series ends on a very high note. 

In this episode the gang is on Johnny Sands' dance game show. However, when the show is interrupted by a wax phantom, the gang has another mystery on their hands.

Everything about this episode is simply wonderful. There is a wonderfully creepy atmosphere throughout this episode. There are tons of wonderfully spooky set pieces here that are so much fun. Mr. Grisby's house is the perfect example of this and a great example of what this franchise does best. It is creepy and atmospheric, but every creepy moment is offset by a cartoony gag. The wax museum is another wonderfully creepy environment. These great set pieces help make this an especially memorable episode. And once again these environments are helped by some truly wonderful background art and a great use of lighting. The wax phantom is also a wonderful Scooby villain. His design and voice are quite memorable, and he has a really creepy feel to him. The mystery is also very good here with some great twists and misdirection. The slapstick comedy here is also fantastic. 

The chase song here is Pretty Mary Sunlight. This song was written by Danny Janssen and George A. Robertson Jr. George A. Robertson also preforms the song. This song would later appear in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies entitled The Phantom of the Country Music Hall (1972). In that episode special guest star country singer Jerry Reed sings the song. 

This marks the last episode of the original series, and it is a fantastic way to close this wonderful show. Appropriately this final episode aired on Halloween day of 1970.  

 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Werewolf (1970)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode, the gang goes on a camping trip. When they hear howling from the distance, they decide to investigate. There they find a monstrous werewolf and have another mystery on their hands. 

There is a lot to love about this episode. The earliest scenes do a great job of setting up a spooky sense of atmosphere. There early scenes really do draw you into this creepy setting and a sense of dread. Part of this is that we hear the werewolf well before we see him and part of it is the always wonderful background art and use of lighting. I honestly wish more episodes took their time before showing us the villain. The werewolf himself is a delightful villain. He has a delightful design that is in equal parts fun and spooky. As this episode goes on the tone turns nearly completely comedic. Luckily most of the gags here work quite well. There is some truly delightful cartoony slapstick with Shaggy and Scooby throughout, especially during the chase scene. Yet thanks again to great background art, the sense of atmosphere is still there in these more comedic scenes. 

My one problem with this episode is that there is no mystery as we don't even meet any suspects before the reveal. 

This is simply a delightful episode and a lot of fun.  

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: A Tiki Scare is No Fair (1970)

 

A delightful fun episode that is considered a classic for a reason.

In this episode the gang takes a trip to Hawaii, when a ghostly witch doctor interrupts their vacation. 

There is so much to love about this episode. The Witch Doctor is a wonderful villain. He has a great an incredibly memorable design as well as a delightfully creepy voice. This episode is also full of great spooky set-pieces. I love the scenes with the giant stone statue, the creepy old man, the skeleton in the airplane and the bats. This is pure Halloween type of spookiness at its most delightful. This episode also greatly benefits from some great background art. While all the episodes of the original series had great background work, the art in this episode is especially delightful to look at and gives this episode a wonderful sense of atmosphere. The episode also has some good comedic moments. The Tarzan and Jane gag always makes me laugh. 

If I had one complaint about this episode, it is that once again there are a lack of suspects that make the mystery too easy to solve. 

The Witch Doctor is one of the most iconic Scooby villains. He would appear in the live action theatrical film, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) and the live action made-for-TV movie, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010). This whole episode was adapted into the 3rd level of the 2000 N64 video game, Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capers.

A real classic. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Haunted House Hang-Up (1970)

 

An excellent episode. 

In this episode, while on the way to a rock music festival, the Mystery Machine breaks down near a haunted mansion. Here they meet the Headless Spector. Before you can say "Jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

There is a lot to love about this episode. The Headless Spector is a wonderful Scooby villain with a memorable design and a great spooky laugh. While there have been plenty of creepy mansions in Scooby history, this one is very well done. The artwork and use of lighting create a great sense of atmosphere. There are also some very effective spooky scenes here, the highlight of which is the head in the chest. Yet this episode is full of what this series does best. That is balancing the spookiness with some good cartoony slapstick. There are plenty of wonderful gags throughout this episode. Some of them like the holding hands scene and the bicycle gag truly made me laugh. The ballon chase towards the end perfectly combines a sense of suspense and a sense of silliness. This episode also benefits from a fun chase song, Love the World, written by Danny Janssen and performed by George A. Robertson Jr.   

My only real problem with this episode is that once again the mystery was too easy to solve due to a lack of suspects. 

Another wonderful episode.

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Scooby's Night with a Frozen Fright (1970)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode, the gang takes a trip to the beach. Scooby and Shaggy are fishing. However instead of catching a fish they catch a frozen cave man. When the ice melts, the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

While this episode may not really be creepy, there is still a lot to love here. Even if he isn't spooky, the cave man is a delightfully fun villain. He has a great design and does feel like a real threat to our heroes. However what really makes this episode work is the humor. This whole episode is full of great slapstick humor, much of which is truly hilarious. In fact this may be one of the funniest episodes of the original series. The opening scenes at the beach and the chase scene are especially funny. Speaking about the chase scene, the song Seven Days a Week is one of my favorite Scooby chase songs. This song (performed by George A. Robertson, Jr. and written by him and Danny Janssen) is pure corny po-rock gold. The mystery element is also fantastic here with a great mislead. This episode also benefits from the great background art that enhanced all the Scooby mysteries of this time.

A very fun episode. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You: Mystery Mask Mix-Up (1970)

 

A fun episode. 

In this episode Daphne buys a mysterious golden mask. However now the ghost of Zen Tuo is after the gang to get his mask back. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this episode. The use of Chinese mythology really helps make this episode stand out giving it a unique feel. The setting in Chinatown also helps give this episode a unique sense of atmosphere the separates it from all the dark mansions and swamps we are used to seeing the gang explore. As well as this sense of atmosphere, this episode also has some good humor. There is some great slapstick during the chase scene and the scene with the mouse also made me chuckle. This episode is also boosted by some surprisingly good action set pieces that give this a fun, breezy feel. This half an hour goes by incredibly quick and is full of fun moment after fun moment.

The chase song, I Can Make You Happy is a delightfully fun little pop-rock tune and complements the chase scene perfectly. It was written by Danny Janssen and Susan Steward and performed by George A. Robertson, Jr. (who did many of the chase songs from this era). 

My only real problem with this episode is a major one though. The villain is rather weak and unmemorable as are his minions. The designs of these characters and their voices do little to make them stand out among so many other Scooby villains. 

In 2000, this episode was adapted into a Little Golden Book as part of the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Adventures. This is the only book in that series to be an adaption of an episode. 

Despite weak villains, this is a very fun Scooby mystery that is a joy to watch.   

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Nowhere to Hyde (1970)

 

The first episode of the second season of Scooby-Doo Where Are You is a pure delight. 

In this episode Dr. Jekyll asks the gang to help him, when he believes that he may be turning into the ghost of the jewel thief Mr. Hyde. 

This is one of the first Scooby mysteries that tries to mislead the audience into thinking someone else is the ghost. As such it can be viewed as almost a turning point in the franchise. While it may not be as complex as later such mysteries it is very effective. There are enough twists here to make you feel proud when you figure out who done it. 

These twists are not the only reason this episode works so well. This is a very atmospheric mystery. Dr. Jekyll's mansion is a perfect setting for a Scooby mystery and there is a lot of great artwork and uses of lighting. The other settings such as the swamp and the malt shop are just as effective. The humor is delightful as well. There are plenty of great comedic moments here including the TV scene, the big chase and the disappearing ice cream trick. These moments all made me smile and sometimes even laugh out loud. This episode also provides us with the first chase song for the series and it is a delightfully fun song with a great and funny chase scene to compliment it. 

The ghost of Mr. Hyde is not one of the most memorable Scooby villains, but he has a great design and a lot of fun. 

This is a delightful episode. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Backstage Rage (1969)

 

A delightfully spooky episode. 

In this episode the gang investigates an abandoned puppet theater after finding a violin case full of money. 

This may be one of the creepiest episodes of the original series. However, it is creepy in a very fun way. This episode has one of the creepiest Scooby-Doo villains. This is because much of his face is very hidden through much of the episode, giving him a mysterious feel that makes him seem otherworldly. His yellow glowing eyes also help make him very creepy. He definitely makes this a very memorable episode. The abandoned puppet theater also makes for a perfect setting Scooby-Doo setting. There is something inherently creepy about an abandoned theatre and something also inherently creepy about puppets. This and the wonderful use of lighting and incredible background art make this a very atmospheric episode. The scene where it appears that the doorman has been turned into a puppet is wonderfully creepy. All this helps give this episode a great sense of suspense that makes it very funny to watch. While I would not rank this as one of the funniest Scooby episodes there are some fun comedy moments here. Scooby really shines here in this department. This is especially true of his scenes with the girl dog puppet and him reenacting everything that happened at the start of the episode. Scooby also gets to be unusually brave here, which is a lot of fun. 

The very next year, a comic book adaption of this story would be released. The adaption was titled One Spook Too Many and appeared in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #3 released in September 1970. 

This is a delight for all Scooby fans.  

Scooby-Doo! Where Are You: A Night of Fright is No Delight (1970)

 

The first Scooby mystery of the 1970's is a top-notch episode in every way. 

In this episode, the gang heads to a creepy mansion when Scooby is in the will of a rich southern gentleman after saving his life. The will states that there is an inheritance waiting for any one of those listed in the will who are able to spend a night in this haunted mansion. The gang spends the night there, but it becomes dangerous when two green ghosts appear. 

This is a fan favorite episode, and it is easy to see why. The premise of a cartoon character having to spend a night in a haunted house to receive an inheritance is a cartoon cliché, but it has possibly never been done better than it has here. The ghosts are some of the best Scooby villains. Much of this is heavily due to their very memorable design. This design is both creepy and a lot of fun. It is also incredibly memorable. These ghosts are probably the first image that comes to my mind when I think about Scooby villains. The moaning is also wonderful and the use of their shadows when they are off screen only adds to the creepy fun. The mansion is also a perfect setting for a Scooby mystery. This whole episode is filled with a great sense of Halloween-y atmosphere thanks to the incredible background art and use of lighting. This episode also benefits from a wonderful sense of humor. Every slapstick gags lands perfectly here.   

In 1971 this episode would receive a comic book adaption entitled Night for a Fright. This story would appear in Gold Key Comics' Scooby-Doo Where Are You! #8. Clips from this episode would later be used in the direct to video movie, Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy (2014). An episode of the TV series Supernatural would be a crossover with Scooby-Doo. That episode, entitled Scoobynatural (2018), features characters from Supernatural being transported into an episode of Scooby-Doo by a haunted TV set. The episode they are transported into is A Night of Fright is No Delight. 

This is a true classic. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Spooky Space Kook (1969)

 

One of the best Scooby mysteries. 

In this episode a spooky alien ghost is haunting an airfield. When the Mystery Machine breaks down near the area, the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

Nearly everything about this episode is fantastic. The villain is one of the best Scooby villains. His design is wonderful, and the laugh is truly creepy. While the background art is always wonderful in these old Scooby-Doo episodes, here it is especially great. The whole look of the airfield is incredibly atmospheric. I especially love the brown sky and the leafless trees. This episode also has some of the original series' best comedic moments. Scooby holding his breath and the gag with the key are truly hilarious. I also love that in this episode Scooby and Shaggy actually really help in solving the mystery instead of just being comedic relief. 

The only real problem with this episode is that there is no real mystery due to a lack of suspects. However, when everything else is so great this is hardly a problem. 

This episode would be adapted into comic book form in 1970. There it was called The Spooky Space Kook and appeared in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #4. This episode would also be adapted into the form of a children book twice. In 1999 it would become the children's book Scooby-Doo: Spooky Space Kook! as part of the Cartoon Network Storybook series. In 2021 it would become the children's book Scooby-Doo! Mini Mysteries: Spooky Space Ghost as part of the Scooby-Doo! Mini Mysteries series. 

Since this episode is rightfully a fan favorite, the character would make many cameo appearances later including in the live action movie, Scooby-Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed (2004) and the TV series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Be Cool Scooby-Doo! 

Scooby-Doo! Where Are You!: Which Witch is Which? (1969)

 

A wonderful episode. 

In this episode, the gang is coming home from a fishing trip. Fred decides to take a shortcut home. This shortcut goes through a creepy swamp where the gang runs into a zombie and a witch. Before you can say "Jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

This episode is simply filled with atmosphere. The opening scene is especially perfect. The wonderful use of fog, the beautiful background art of the swamp and the image of the zombie rowing himself through the water already gives this episode a delightfully fun Halloween-y atmosphere. This atmosphere continues through the whole episode. This swamp makes a perfect setting for a Scooby-Doo mystery and the background art and use of lighting makes this episode truly stand out. The villains are wonderful. They have fantastic designs that make them truly memorable. The witch's creepy voice is also fantastic. This episode also gains a bit of good suspense when Daphne disappears. While this is not the only time Daphne had been kidnapped, having one of the main characters disappear always helps makes the villain seem more menacing. Speaking of the main characters, this episode also finds great ways to fully utilize each of these characters. This may not be one of the funniest episodes of the show but both times that Scooby and Shaggy disguise themselves are very fun gags. 

My only real problem with this episode is the lack of suspects. Because of this there is no mystery for us the audience to solve. 

In 1971, this episode would be adapted in comic book form. This comic book version was titled The Swamp Witch and would appear in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #5.

This is a delightful episode. 

Scooby-Doo Where Are You!: Scooby-Doo and a Mummy Too (1969)

 

An excellent episode. 

In this episode the gang visits the Department of Archeology. While there Shaggy accidently puts an ancient coin in his pocket. The mummy in there seemingly comes to life and tries to get the coin from Shaggy, 

There is a lot to love about this episode. While the mummy may not be the creepiest Scooby villain, but he is definitely a very memorable one. His design is wonderful perfectly combining the spooky and the cartoon-y. Though he doesn't say much his voice is definitely quite memorable as well, especially the way he says "coin." The way he supposedly turns characters to stone adds a good level of suspense. The Department of Archelogy also proves to be a delightful setting for a Scooby mystery. The way it looks at night with the lights off is incredibly atmospheric. The great use of lighting and the beautiful background art makes this episode a treat for the eyes. What really makes this episode stand out is the humor. This is one of the funnier episodes of the original series and there are some true laugh out loud moments here. I especially love the showdown between Scooby and the mummy and Scooby drinking the potions. 

This episode's popularity with fans has resulted in it being referenced in a lot of Scooby-Doo stories and collectables. In 1971 the story would be adapted into comic book form under the name of Somebody's Mummy. This story appeared in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #7. In 2015 there be a LEGO set designed around this episode. With this in mind it is no wonder that there would be a scene recreating this episode in the movie, LEGO Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash (2017) and a level based off the episode in the 2015 video game, LEGO Dimensions. 

This is simply a wonderful episode.

Scooby-Doo! Where Are You: A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts (1969)

 

A really fun episode. 

In this episode the gang goes to Franken Castle, only to be meet by Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolfman. 

This episode has a perfect premise. The gang meeting three of the most famous monsters in one episode is pretty much irresistible. Not only this but the execution is also excellent. The monsters are all great with wonderful design work and great voice acting. Franken Castle proves to be a perfect setting for a Scooby mystery. It has a delightfully atmospheric feel that is both creepy and fun at the same time. The background art is simply beautiful here and reminds one of the old Universal monster movies in the best way possible. The lighting is also masterfully used here and gives this a real cinematic feel (even if it is made for TV). The lighting is especially effective in the wonderful scene in the room with the fireplace as well as the scene in the torture chamber. This episode also benefits from some great slapstick humor. In many ways this episode is one chase scene after another but all of them are equal amounts funny and exciting. 

The only fault I have with this episode is that there is no real mystery as we don't ever meet any suspects until the villain's identity is revealed. 

A few years later this episode would be adapted to comic book form in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo Where Are You #10 (released in February 1972). That story would be entitled The Ghosts of Grimstone Castle (which made up the whole comic book). The story would change the name Franken Castle to Grimstone Castle among other changes. 

This is a very fun episode. 

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You: Bedlam in the Big Top (1969)

 

By far the creepiest Scooby mystery. 

In this episode, the gang investigates at a circus that is supposedly being haunted by a ghost clown who is hypnotizing people.  

As a kid, this is the one episode of Scooby-Doo that I would not watch as it creeped me out. Watching it again as an adult, I fully understand why. Not only does the Ghost Clown have a creepy design but all these years later he is still one of the most dangerous Scooby villains ever. Unlike most of the villains he does not simply try to scare people, but he truly puts lives in danger. In this episode he comes very close to killing Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne. This makes this one of the most suspenseful episodes of the show. Even though deep inside we know nothing is going to happen to our heroes, this episode still puts us on the edge of our seats. However, what made me not want to watch this episode as a kid is just what makes it appeal to me today as the suspense truly makes this episode stand out. However, in true Scooby-Doo fashion the suspense is expertly combined with classic cartoon slapstick. While this may not be one of the funniest episodes, but the humor is still a lot of fun. The circus also works as a perfect setting for a Scooby mystery. There is something about a circus at night that is equal parts creepy and fun, which is just what Scooby-Doo is at its best. It also allows for some truly great and atmospheric background art. 

This episode was adapted into a comic book in the 1971 Gold Key comic book story The Phantom Clown from Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #9. It would much later be adapted into the 2021 children's book Scooby-Doo! Mini Mysteries: Big Top Bandit. The Ghost Clown appears in the live action movies Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) and Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010) as well as the 2006 video game Scooby-Doo, Who's Watching Who?

This episode is a lot of creepy fun, but I still don't want to run into that creepy clown in a dark alley.  

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: Never Ape an Ape Man (1969)

 

A really fun episode.

In this episode the gang visits Daphne's Uncle, director John Maxwell. They decide to work as extras on his new film, The Ape Man of Forbidden Mountain. However, when a real ape man shows up and ruins the movie, the gang has another mystery on their hands.

There is a lot of fun to be had in this episode. While the ape man is not creepy, he does have a great design that makes him feel real threatening. The scene on the bridge early on has a good sense of suspense with Scooby being in real danger. The green background in this scene only gives it a greater sense of atmosphere which increases the suspense. In fact, this whole episode benefits from beautiful background art that gives it a delightfully creepy feel. The chase scenes here are fantastic and quite exciting. At the same time the humor here is wonderful. This episode features Scooby humor at its absolute best. The scene with the ape man putting on a Scooby-Doo mask and pretends to be Scooby's reflection. This is an old gag, which dates back to silent films. However, the sheer ridiculous extreme this gag is taken to here (including the ape having a Scooby-Doo mask) makes it feel very fresh and funny. The "Shaggy snack" also cracked me up.

My only real problem is that once again the mystery is too easy to solve thanks to a lack of suspects. 

The very next year this episode would be adapted into comic book form in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #1, which was released in March 1970. The comic book adaption made some changes to the original story including adding an ending, where John Maxwell rewrites the movie so that the gang can be the stars, with Scooby as the ape man. 

This is classic Scooby-Doo at its best.